Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

Zhan Hui said with some fear: "I am almost scared to death by what happened to the old man. If something happens to the old man, the prince is not in the imperial city now, and Master Zhu is still outside, what should we do then?"

Fu Youwen was stunned, and looked at Zhan Hui and said, "If something had happened to the old man, Zhu Yunwen might have succeeded in the Meridian Gate Incident today."

"He is acting with justice in mind. Who can stop him?"

Zhan Hui sighed: "After this incident, the old man should think carefully. We can't keep leaving Master Zhu out there. If one day he really..."

Fu Youwen nodded in agreement: "Yes! Let's find a chance to give the old man some subtle advice. If Master Zhu doesn't succeed to the throne, all our efforts will be in vain! A new emperor appoints new ministers. If we really let someone else take advantage of the situation and ascend the throne, our future will be completely ruined!"

Zhan Hui hummed, "Write the disaster relief petition first, then go to Zhu's house."

……

Far away in Jiaozhi.

The Governor's Office has begun to take shape.

Xie Jin was very smart. After receiving 300,000 taels of silver from Zhu Xiongying, he began to contract civil engineering projects from the private sector.

People in the society who were always seeking profit naturally agreed happily when they heard that Jiaozhi Yamen had budgeted so much money.

Because there were too many businessmen vying for the civil engineering contract, Xie Jin demanded a deposit of 50,000 taels.

As a result, without any initial investment, he not only attracted merchants engaged in civil engineering construction, but also received 50,000 taels of silver in advance.

You must know that money is depreciating. With the improvement of the economy, 50,000 taels now and 50,000 taels a year later are completely different things.

In addition, this sum of 50,000 taels of silver effectively solved the urgent problem of naval military expenditure.

As for the later return to the civil engineering contractor, it will have to wait for Champa to pay the grain money in batches.

In any case, Xie Jin's move was extremely wise.

Today, under the urgent work of the people, Jiaozhi Provincial Administration has no longer the appearance of a local government office, and has become a somewhat majestic Huizhou architectural model.

In the governor's office, petty clerks were constantly running around in a hurry.

There were many people sitting in the central hall of the yamen.

Some officials were so sick with the heat that they had blisters on their mouths.

Zhang Shutong, the left councillor, said to Xie Jin in a sarcastic tone: "Master Xie, the number of people infected with malaria in Jiaozhi today is as high as 7,800. In less than half a month, the number increases by thousands every day. In the future, Jiaozhi will be completely destroyed!"

Zhang Shutong's arrival made the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commissioner look more favorably upon Xie Jin.

At that time, Xie Jin killed former Left Councillor Hong Xuebin in anger, and everyone thought that Xie Jin was in big trouble.

But in the end, not only did Xie Jin not get anything done, the court even demoted Zhang Shutong from the Hanlin Academy to take over.

For this reason, many people speculated that behind Xie Jin, there might be a top figure in the court, and Xie Jin was just a tool.

Zhang Shutong has been investigating these days to find out whose knife Xie Jin's belongs to. He has found out that Xie Jin often sends letters to Yingtian, and the letters are addressed to Tie Xuan.

This shows that the power behind Xie Jin may be beyond his imagination, so he dare not investigate.

"Master Jie, the people of Jiaozhi are beginning to feel disappointed and disheartened with our governor, and many of them have begun to criticize him privately."

"If it is not controlled, there may be a civil uprising later."

"Yes, you asked the soldiers to control the crowd, but the more you controlled them, the more violent the commotion outside became!"

"I have said that we should either deal with these people collectively or prevent them from continuing to infect others."

Xie Jin looked at Zhang Shutong and said coldly, "They are also the people of the Ming Dynasty and the subjects of the emperor. I don't understand how to deal with them as Mr. Zhang said."

Zhang Shutong was about to speak, but Xie Jin interrupted him and said, "Also, when you talk to me, please respect the inferiors! You came from the Hanlin Academy, and we were colleagues before. Haven't you learned the etiquette of respect and inferiority?"

Zhang Shutong took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Oh, I know I was wrong."

He no longer dared to call himself "this official".

"What I mean is that all the people infected with malaria should be killed..."

Snapped!
Xie Jin slammed the table hard, pointed at Zhang Shutong and shouted angrily: "Put your mother's shit on the table!"

This civil servant has already shown some courage.

With the local training of talents, Xie Jin's abilities became more and more outstanding.

……

A letter came from Yingtian, wrapped in yellow sand.

The Jiaozhi Provincial Government Office fell into silence at this time.

Xie Jin pointed at Zhang Shutong's nose and cursed him, which frightened all the officials present. They all lowered their heads and dared not say a word.

Zhang Shutong wanted to refute, but in the end he just stammered and didn't dare to say anything more to Jie Jin.

After all, Xie Jin held the power of life and death over Jiaozhi, and was also the highest official in the entire Jiaozhi.

Zhang Shutong did not dare to challenge Xie Jin's bottom line.

"Oh." Zhang Shutong said calmly, "Then follow Master Jie's instructions. I will do whatever Master Jie says."

"I have good intentions. After all, if there is chaos in Jiaozhi, no one will suffer any consequences."

Xie Jin said coldly: "Then we will brutally slaughter all those infected with malaria? If you are infected with malaria, will I bury you alive as well?"

Uncle Zhang was speechless: "I know I was wrong."

After he finished speaking, he said no more.

Before coming to Jiaozhi, Zhang Shutong had some resentment towards Xie Jin, after all, Xie Jin killed his classmate and fellow townsman Hong Xuebin.

But he had to admit that Xie Jin was capable.

Many people in the court were not optimistic about Xie Jin, and even less optimistic about Jiaozhi.

Without any funding from the imperial court, and when the people of Jiaozhi were difficult to educate and tame, Xie Jin still managed to make this place look brand new in just over three months. Such a feat cannot be erased.

He also didn't want to see Jiaozhi, who was gradually getting better, have all the hard work of the previous three months wasted because of malaria.

The hall fell silent again.

After Xie Jin vented his anger, his face became sad again.

What Zhang Shutong said was also true. The difficulties facing Jiaozhi were too great.

Xie Jin came with faith. He promised Zhu Huai that he would make Jiaozhi completely agricultural within the first half of the year and start building the business structure in the second half of the year.

Seeing that everything was proceeding in an orderly manner, the people gradually began to return to their hearts, and the prestige of the Governor became increasingly greater in the hearts of the people of Jiaozhi.

However, an outbreak of malaria completely shook all previous efforts.

Xie Jin sighed, looked around at everyone, and said, "What suggestions do you have? Why is it that despite the strict control of the source of malaria transmission, the number of malaria cases in your jurisdiction is still increasing every day?"

The chief officers of the three ends and eleven tribes of Jiaozhi had unspeakable grievances.

An official sighed and said, "Your Excellency does not know this."

"When we issue a policy, anyone infected with malaria and their entire family must be taken away by our government officials for quarantine..."

"And now, even if the people are infected with malaria, they dare not report it. The population is large, and the court has very few people, so there is no way to prevent and control it."

Xie Jin rubbed his brows and said, "Then let's ask the village chiefs in various townships to take responsibility."

The official sighed and said, "That won't work. The people in each village are all very familiar with each other. Human feelings are more important than legal etiquette. Families want to be reunited, not separated, isolated, or kept as pets... The village chief cannot ignore human feelings."

A single move can affect the entire body. Jiaozhi and the Central Plains all depend on personal relationships. If something really happens, the people who help are still the neighbors. Can you count on others?

How could the feelings they had for each other for such a long time be destroyed by just one law?

The grassroots are difficult to manage, especially the administrative units at the village level, which is even more troublesome.

Major policies and directions can be implemented, but if they really harm the interests of the grassroots people, no one at the bottom will really do anything.

The officials whispered to each other, but for a moment they could not think of a better solution.

It is clearly for the benefit of the people, but the policy cannot be implemented and cannot be controlled, and there is no way to prevent it effectively.

Xie Jin gritted his teeth and said, "Issue the order! If any village fails to report malaria, the village head will be held responsible, and the neighbors will be punished as well!"

"Enforce it strictly! Have the Censorate strictly follow this decree and impose severe punishment on anyone caught doing so!"

After Xie Jin finished speaking, Zhang Shutong hesitated for a moment, but finally could not help but remind him: "Master Xie, if it really rises to this level, I am afraid that the people will flee!"

Xie Jin said coldly: "That's better than the accumulation of malaria day after day! No matter what, we can't let the plague continue to break out. If it really gets out of control, not only will I lose my head, but I'm afraid you won't be much better off!"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but tremble and nodded: "Okay!"

Just as everyone was preparing to leave the Governor's Office.

"Report, report, report!"

"Master Jie, an urgent letter from Yingtian!"

The officials who had just stood up sat down again, staring at the knight who delivered the letter with sharp eyes, and then staring deeply at Xie Jin.

"bring here!"

Xie Jin waved his hand and took the letter.

Everyone can see it clearly.

This is not a memorial from the six ministries, nor is it an imperial edict from the palace.

This is just an ordinary letter like a family letter.

Everyone was suspicious. It was clearly a family letter, so why was it said to be an urgent letter from the court?
Xie Jin opened the letter sent by Tie Xuan and looked at it carefully. His dark eyes flickered and his cheeks sometimes frowned and sometimes relaxed.

After reading it, the wrinkles on Xie Jin's forehead slowly relaxed.

There was a hint of joy on his face.

All the officials of the Chief Secretary looked at them with confusion.

At this time, Master Xie can still laugh? !

"It's saved!"

Xie Jin spoke suddenly, and all the officials in the governorate stared at him in amazement, their eyes filled with shock.

"what?"

"Master Jie, what do you mean?!"

Xie Jin looked at everyone and said, "Hurry up and find the cinchona tree. The bark of this tree can be ground into powder to cure malaria. Remember, act in secret!"

"If anyone leaks any information about what happened today, don't blame me for being rude!"

The common people pursue profit, the merchants pursue profit. If someone knew that the cinchona tree can cure malaria, it would probably not take long before this tree would be uprooted.

The common people and merchants would never consider the long-term national interests, and Xie Jin naturally knew this very well.

"what?!"

An official jumped out and said: "There is a magic medicine that can cure malaria?!"

This matter completely subverted their cognition.

Malaria and smallpox have been two major problems facing the country since ancient times. They are also the evils that have troubled and killed the most people since the establishment of the Central Plains dynasty.

Is there a medicine that can cure it?

Or just the bark of a tree?
The officials all had a big question mark in their minds!
The progress of civilization always takes place amidst doubt and experimentation, and people have an innate resistance to the unknown.

"Sir Xie, this matter is of great importance. Is it really like this?!" Someone stood up and asked Xie Jin with a serious expression.

This concerns the life and death of tens of thousands of people and cannot be taken lightly.

If he can really save the patient, it will not be an exaggeration to call him a national hero or a national hero!

Xie Jin also had doubts in his heart, but he knew that the letter was written by Zhu Huai.

The emperor's grandson would never joke about this matter unless he was absolutely sure.

Xie Jin said sternly: "I guarantee it with the black sand on my head! This medicine can definitely cure malaria!"

"The three ministers and eleven ministers, issue an order! Tell the people that the court has developed a drug to treat malaria, so they don't need to panic!"

"Commander-in-Chief, your office is responsible for collecting the bark of the cinchona tree. Remember my words. Do not reveal any information about the sacred tree. Anyone who violates this will be executed immediately!"

The commander of Jiaozhi stood up and said, "Great! I wonder what exactly is the cinchona tree that Lord Jie mentioned, and what does it look like?"

Xie Jin handed him the letter and said, "It contains pictures and an introduction to their habits. Go quickly!"

"it is good!!"

Wait for the commander to leave.

An official stood up and looked at Xie Jin earnestly and said, "Sir, why don't you try it first to see if the medicine works? This way, it won't cause too much risk to you."

"If we notify them now and the medicine doesn't work, then wouldn't that be..."

A large number of people already identify with and respect Xie Jin.

Xie Jin said: "I can't wait any longer. Now the eleven tribes have begun to riot. If we don't pacify them, I'm afraid there will be even greater disasters!"

"Once the Chief Secretary loses his prestige, rebellion, killing, robbery and other kinds of order will be in chaos..."

"I cannot gamble. If anything goes wrong, I will be solely responsible."

When everyone heard what Li Jin said, they were immediately filled with respect.

Someone took off his black sha, looked at Xie Jin, and said solemnly: "I will bear this crime together with Master Xie!"

Xie Jin was stunned for a moment, and looked at the young official in front of him with some emotion.

"Nonsense! Your career is limitless, why are you being so ridiculous?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another official stood up, took off his black hat, and said to Xie Jin seriously: "Master Xie, I am also willing to stand with you in the face of the storm!"

Then, one, two, three... ten, more than half of the officials in the Governor's Office stood up, regardless of their official positions, all with determination: "We all want it!"

Zhang Shutong looked at the young faces in the Governor's Office and sighed in his heart: "What a bunch of fools! They are still young! They have a bright future in the government..."

Fuck!
He also stood up: "Count me in!"

In the face of national crisis, the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty finally had a group of people with backbone! Xie Jin looked a little dazed, "You..."

Nothing could move Xie Jin more than this.

Even a tough guy couldn't help but have red eyes when facing this scene.

(End of this chapter)